Saudi girls prefer careers over marrying rich

According to a recent survey, Saudi women indicated that they prefer having a successful career and earning their own money than to having a wealthy husband.

According to a recent survey, Saudi women indicated that they prefer having a successful career and earning their own money than to having a wealthy husband.

Over 200 Saudi women between the ages of 17 and 35 took part in the online survey conducted by Arab News. 87 percent of single women said they would choose work over having a wealthy husband, and 13 percent agreed to marry a rich man because they either wanted to start their own business or they considered spending their rich husband’s money a job in itself. On the other hand, women who wanted a career said they wanted to make a name for themselves by working.

When given the choice between raising a family or working, the majority again voted for working.

“I cannot see myself staying at home and doing nothing but cooking and cleaning. I want my husband to see more in me than just a ‘baby-making machine,’” said 34-year-old Zahra Abunaser. She considers staying at home a waste of her education and skills.

“I want to work and get paid for what I do, instead of sitting and watching TV,” she added.

According to 19-year-old Wed Al-Abadi, spending money and enjoying life is good but only on a short vacation. Al-Abadi said she wouldn't mind marrying a rich man who can afford to buy her nice things, but at the same time she feels the need “to accomplish something” in her life.

“If I marry a rich man, I would expect him to help me start or expand my own business,” she explained. Al-Abadi said an educated woman would not accept to be a stay-at-home wife.

On the other hand, juggling home, family, work and a social life is hard for some women.

“A woman cannot do it all; being a wife and a mother is a full-time job. If you have another full-time employment outside, you will face a lot of pressure, making you less productive at one of them,” said 47-year-old Intesar Al-Ali.

She finds it difficult to combine her full-time occupation with being a mother in addition to having some sort of personal life. The result is a lack of sleep and exhaustion, “not because my child keeps waking up at night, but because I have to deal with my children first and then deal with my work projects,” said Al-Ali.

“Why haven't I quit my job? Because I make good money and I need it. If I could do it again, I would marry a rich man and stay at home instead of having a career,” she added.